OSLO BIRDER: Lapwings and Taigas back!

In my last post I predicted that I would see my first Lapwing, Mistle Thrush and Snow Bunting this week. The week is still early but the first two fell today along with Linnet and Twite and despite lots of snow on the ground and temperatures below zero in the morning there is a definite feeling that the gates have opened and nothing will close them again.

I have been following the plots of the two GPS tagged Taiga Bean Geese excitedly the last couple of days and yesterday (a sunny day with temperatures rising to +8C in the afternoon) I saw that they had decided to head north again after a week’s holiday in warmer clines. Interestingly they had split up the previous night and both birds had spent the night feeding on fields (normally they roost on water) but the next morning they headed north independently and followed near identical routes. I went to look for them today and found only 74 birds along with 18 Pink-feet and a Barnacle. I noted 6 collars which means 2 that I had seen previously seen were missing - I still hope that more birds will turn up as the flock size is small compared to previous years. Hardly any other wildfowl is moving yet though with only Whooper Swans moving in any numbers and I noted no dabbling ducks apart from local Mallards.

I went searching for Woodlarks but they do not seem to be back yet but 2 Great Grey Shrikes were some compensation.

I saw Lapwings at three different sites today including 3 birds back in Maridalen. The fields are still covered in snow and they were stood forlornly on the ice. I suspect that they will now disappear for a few days but will pop in every now and again to see if conditions are suitable. All three looked to be males which would make sense as they usually return first.

a slighly later arrival date than the average

not much food to find there

Taiga Beans (taigasædgås), Pink-footed Geese (kortnebbgås) and a single Barnacle Goose (hvitkinngås) back on a south facing field where the snow has melted